Biden Names Former Lobbyist As His Chief Of Staff

New York Times:

President-elect Barack Obama on Saturday named Ronald A. Klain, a former lobbyist and Clinton White House lawyer, as chief of staff to Vice President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr.

His selection is one of several early appointments to Mr. Obama's White House and transition staff that calls attention to the limits of Mr. Obama's sweeping self-imposed ethics rules, laid out to fulfill a campaign pledge to "wrest the federal government out of the hands of lobbyists."

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[SparkyDash]

see poster reliant1 contribution below...well done reliant1!

This is kind of a non-story other than Mr. Klain being an excellent choice for Biden's Chief of Staff. Klain's a good man and will serve well in the new administration. We should expect blow-back regarding all new appointments and positions...it goes with transitions of each new administration. But, otherwise, a non-story. Congratulations Mr. Klain.

[tbone99]

"Mr. Klain, who was chief of staff to former VP Al Gore, is an executive at Revolution, the INVESTMENT company of the AOL founder Steve Case. He worked until 2005 lobbying for clients including the FAILED mortgage giant Fannie Mae; an industry group seeking help with asbestos lawsuits; a drug maker UNDER FEDERAL INVESTIGATION; the cable and media giant TIME WARNER; and an airline"

But he works at Revolution! That makes him a REVOLUTIONARY!

as usual ,the laugh is on us.

[LemonMeringue]

I'm holding my breath and focusing hard on the word FORMER.

Please bring us the change you promised.

[Independentjunkie]

don't let go of that breath.

Because FORMER is not an excuse -- " to be a GOVT EMPLOYEE you have to be Former something! "

did you think you could be a 'on the payroll_ Lobbyist on wall street' and also earn a salary as a white house employee?

FORMER excuse only shows your lack of knowledge to make an excuse !

[miocid31]

this guy was a lobbyist until 2005.....3 YEARS AGO!

[redheaded1]

He has a pretty full resume and lobbying is just a short stint.

Look, talented people work for an administration, and then move into lobbying. This is Washington. This is life.

[HHarvey]

It's going to be hard to find one person who hasn't worked as a lobbyist as some time in Washington. It's sad that the last several years have come to that in our government but that's the truth.

[marymansour]

Washington is full of lobbyists. You can't get around them in that city. So what if Biden chooses one as his chief of staff? The trick was in not having to toady to them for campaign funds.

[rollingdivision]

Team filled with lobbyists. In Transition, Ties to Lobbying
WASHINGTON — President-elect Barack Obama has imposed stricter conflict-of-interest restrictions on his White House transition team than any president before him. But a list of transition team members that his office made public on Friday includes A COMPLICATED TANGLE OF TIES TO PRIVATE INFLUENCE-SEEKERS.
Among the full roster of about 150 staff members being assigned to government agencies between now and Inauguration Day are dozens of former lobbyists and some who were registered as recently as this year. Many more are executives and partners at firms that pay lobbyists, and former government officials who work as consultants or advisers to those seeking influence.

[protagonia]

No news is THIS news.

[personalpolitical]

This is stupid. Who gives a crap? This guy was a lobbyist once upon a time? Big deal, who hasn't been in Washington? I'm so sick of this "this isn't the change we need" crap everytime someone thinks they caught Obama with a "gotcha". Seriously, give me a break.

[brynn6]

First of all, it's time to stop equating lobbyists with unmitigated evil. Lobbyist does not = minion of Satan. Have there been abuses by some? Of course. Any time there are big pots of money and influence to be had there are going to be abuses. Where else will you find more money and influence to be had than state and federal government? No one thinks for a second that lobbying is going to go away. A lot of us are more and more encouraged that the present "rules" for lobbying will be enforced and that new rules will enacted as needed.

If you have ever been employed by a large organization or company, the chances that you have had a lobbyist working for your interests is close to 100%. The "holy" bastion of small business, National Federation of Independent Business, lobbies heavily. The American Heart Association has lobbyists. The AARP has lobbyists. See where I'm going with this? The idea is not, and never has been to eliminate lobbying. The idea is to eliminate undue influence through bribes and "promises."

[rollingdivision]

What a difference an election makes. Before the election liberals were crucifying McCain for having former lobbyists on his campaign. Now your guy, Mr. "lobbyist will not have a job in my white house" is bringing in "dozens of former lobbyists and some who were registered as recently as this year. Many more are executives and partners at firms that pay lobbyists, and former government officials who work as consultants or advisers to those seeking influence." And the Obama sheeple are now touting the goodness of lobbyists. This makes Obama look bad even before he takes office and this is not good for the country, we need Obama to succeed.

[commarcos]

There is obviously a difference between lobbyists who are lobbying for something relevant and get only moderate attention and lobbyists who have always had the republican ear such as big oil, telecommunications, big defense (boeing, haliburton, lockheed), tabacco, alcohol, NRA, the state of Georgia (who know started a war not that long ago), McCain's transition team would have been headed by someone who lobbied for Saddam, how can you not see the difference? Nobody here isn't saying that they won't be keeping a eye on Obama and will withhold the fire from his feet, but the realist knows that to not create the mess of Clinton's early days we need people with experience to create a smooth transition for Obama and the people who have the experience worked for Clinton in the latter years.

[reliant1]

Earlier in his career, he clerked for Supreme Court Justice Byron White, worked on Capitol Hill, as Chief Counsel of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. He was portrayed by Kevin Spacey in the HBO film Recount.

Experience on Capitol Hill - Legislative Director for Rep. Ed Markey. Served as Chief Counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, overseeing matters of constitutional law, criminal law, antitrust law, and Supreme Court nominations.

He was Associate Counsel to the President, directing judicial selection efforts, and led the team that won confirmation of Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Klain left the judicial selection role in 1994 to become Chief of Staff and Counselor to Attorney General Janet Reno. In 1995, he became Assistant to the President, and Chief of Staff and Counselor to Al Gore.

In October 1999, he joined the Washington, D.C. office of the law firm of O’Melveny & Myers. LOBBYIST

A year later, Klain returned to the Gore campaign. 2004 Presidential campaign, Klain worked as an adviser to Wesley Clark and during the General Election was heavily involved behind the scenes in John Kerry's campaign and is widely credited for his role in preparing Senator Kerry for a strong performance in the debates against President George W. Bush, which gave Kerry a significant boost in the polls.

Oh yeah this is a bad bad choice and Obama should be ashamed of himself for even knowing him.

[brynn6]

Thanks for doing your homework and allowing the rest of us to cheat off you. I really wish others would do the same instead of giving in to immediate knee-jerk reactions.

[Veri]

Many people responsible for the various crisis present today have had a history of government influence over the last thirty years of serving in or working for the government. The Cold Warriors of yesterday, spread their influence during the Bush Administration.

Lobbyists of ten and twenty years ago, some of influenced the very rules of inequity written into law, are now? Being hired by the Obama Administration. Oh, do not worry my dear Americans. You will get good portions of scraps from the table. Unfortunately, for you and I, the reality behind the red curtain is more of the same.

Reagan made many feel good about themselves. Clinton also did the same. Obama will most certainly follow in their footsteps. And then, a few years from now, the reality of more inequity will become apparent. Guaranteed.

[brynn6]

I don't expect to love everything Obama does, why would you even imply that that's the case? I do expect him to even (gasp) make some mistakes. Not everyone deifies leaders or ideas. All I expect is for Obama, his staff and Congress to do their best and their best will be light years ahead of what we've had to endure lately.

[brynn6]

P.S.: "...the reality behind the red curtain..." Did you really think you were being subtle with this? We're on to your idiotic insinuations.

[jacqmac]

Sorry you couldn't press the same keys that others have on THEIR keyboards and come up with the WHOLE of Klain's resume! Sorry that you expected to LIKE everything a President does or says too!
By the way---ANYTIME ANYONE goes to their State Legislature and visits with representatives and Senators on behalf of a 'local cause' they are engaging in LOBBYING! Therefore, a good NUMBER of citizens can call themselves 'LOBBYISTS'. By the same token, NOT all LOBBYISTS are created equal.
ACORN has LOBBYISTS, the National Organization of Women has LOBBYISTS, the UNIONS have LOBBYISTS, the Cattle Rancher's Association has LOBBYISTS. The type of lobbyist that President-elect Obama is bent on rooting out of government is the SAME TYPE OF LOBBYIST AS THOSE THAT RAN McCAIN's campaign. THOSE lobbyists have MILLIONS of DOLLARS in their budgets--which DEFINITELY puts ACORN or the National Organization of Women or Planned Parenthood, or the UNIONS at a GREAT DISADVANTAGE! Also--by virtue of the fact that over 8 MILLION PEOPLE contributed to Obama's campaign those that DID are ALL LOBBYISTS!! Level playing field----

[Veri]

I am sorry, Rube. Most Citizens are not PAID to go and visit their representative. You might have misunderstood my post... I did not say all lobbyists are bad. Sometimes, good does happen.

I do agree with ACORN. And unions have never lobbied for a detrimental, preferential loophole? That will be the day. And, I do not happen to like every President. I just view every politician promising me a brighter, happier future, without providing results, with suspicion.

Now, for a little lesson, Rube. Corporate lobbyist have much more money than social organizations to spend on lobbyists. This, in turn, buys much more time with the politicians. And, more money translates directly into more influence. Rube.

Money talks, Bullsh*t walks.

[Culturemaven]

Since the new ethics rule calls for no lobbying two years prior to being hired, then this isn't an ethics issue since the man quit lobbying in 2005.
Having said that, though, I do wish the new administration would tread carefully and avoid the appearance of hypocrisy or rule-bending. Couldn't Biden have found another qualified person who did not work as a lobbyist? It's just enough of a "story" to fuel the chatter and phony outrage.

[tdpubs]

Unfortunately, everyone who has had a job in Washington at some point in the last 30 years has been a lobbyist. It is the turnstile system. That doesn't make them bad just ex-lobbyists. I like the two year rule. I wish it was the 5 year rule.

[Mikeeee]

Agreed, 5 years would be better to get them grounded back in reality.

[reliant1]

Supreme Court Clerk. Chief Counsel. Assoc Counsel to the President to confirm Ginsberg. Chief of Staff and Counselor to Attorney General Janet Reno. Chief Counsel of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee

Poor poor choice.

[brynn6]

Let them chatter and spew. If it wasn't this it would be something else. I want Biden to have his choice of staff and let the d e v i l take the hindermost (as my mom used to say). I trusted him with my vote and until he proves otherwise I trust his choices.

[GrkAm]

brynn6 . . . Excellent point. "I trusted him with my vote and until he proves otherwise I trust his choices".

I don't think I could have put it in any other words.

[evgolightly]

Another non-story.

Really scraping the barrel to create news these days.

[adv2int]

You guys should watch the "Secrets of Body Language" on the history channel.

It's very interesting.
(a little off topic)

[changeishere08]

I just watched it and loved it. It was a very intriguing program.